Forget the Oscars, 'The Fluffies' is an award ceremony that celebrates the
existence of the plushest, softest towels in hotels around the UK.

A good towel is key to making a hotel stay feel luxurious, according to those behind the contest: shower and tapware company Methven.

The towels in 20 of the biggest mid- to high range hotel chains across the country were rated by independent judges on criteria including thickness, whiteness, size and their "overall feel, condition and smell".

The judges, from the industry research organisation the 59club, tested each towel three times to ensure they reached a reliable verdict. They were then given a score out of 20 in each category.

The hotel that emerged with the most impessive towels was Malmaison, which was given a total score of 64 out of 80. The company's towels impressed judges who found them "thick, soft-to-touch and whiter than white".